Simple Practices for Safe Online Shopping
If you are anything like me, you dread manual, old-economy shopping. Between the back going into seizure from standing motionless for hours on a hard floor, and the ‘Type A’ blood pressure spike from congested traffic and standing in long checkout lines, I can honestly say I prefer an equivalent time in hard labor to traditional shopping. While online shopping removes the annoyances of manual shopping, multiplies product options, saves time and gas, allows for better cost comparison, and provides greater quality assurance through product reviews, it can also introduce you to a genuine financial hardship with a single breach of your security. Adopt these online shopping habits to safeguard your security.
Use trusted sites ONLY. Whenever you enter your credit-card number, always look for the letter "s" at the end of the URL's "http." It should say "https://" before the rest of the site's address.
Use encrypted sites ONLY. An icon of a closed padlock will appear at the bottom of the page in most browsers; without encryption hackers can more easily access your information.
Check the spelling. Make sure the URL you are about to access is the intended URL. The term “Official website” often accompanies a search for retail sites, and the URL of many scam-based websites resembles the real thing.
Shield your shopping devices. Invest in a good malware-removal program and a good antivirus program for your computer. For your handheld device, use programs like Malwarebytes (for Android phones) and Avast SecureLine (for Apple).
Avoid “free public Wi-Fi” like the plague. Never enter your personally identifiable information (PII) or financial information on an unsecured network!
Lock your device, guard your password, and use “two-factor authentication”, which you can learn about here.
Use resell sites and gift cards cautiously. An online purchase requiring an activation code requires additional precaution, and we often don’t know if the full value remains on a gift card. I try to avoid both of these.
Check for a receipt. Save a digital or hard copy of all receipts, and check your credit card statement to verify the charge. ¹
Establish these safe online shopping disciplines, and enjoy the extra time online shopping will afford you with your family! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving celebration this year. Shaun
“The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it.” ~Proverbs 27:12
1 Doc Eifrig’s Health & Wealth Bulletin, “Seven Ways to Stay Safe While Shopping Online”, November 22, 2021
Opinions voiced in this material are general, are not intended to provide specific recommendations, and do not necessarily reflect the views of LPL Financial. The economic forecasts set forth in this commentary may not develop as predicted.